Aachen PK 2003 – scientific programme

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P: Plasmaphysik

P 3: Low Temperature Plasmas, Plasma Technology

P 3.5: Talk

Monday, March 17, 2003, 17:05–17:25, FO4

Characterization of fs-laser-generated hot electrons by Cerenkov- and Szintillator radiation^a — •Jürgen Stein¹, Jaroslav Kuba², Dieter Habs³, and Ernst Fill¹ — ¹Hans-Kopfermann-str.1, 85748 Garching — ²USA — ³München

The interaction of intense fs- laser pulses with solids generates hot electrons which are accelerated into the target. We use the ATLAS laser of Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik to irradiate thin copper foils at intensities up to 10¹⁹ W/cm² , generating electrons with temperatures of several 100 keV. After propagating through the target the electrons are detected via Cerenkov radiation generated in a suitable medium or by radiation emitted from an organic szintillator. These diagnostics allow to characterize the electrons with respect to their energy, number and directionality. We also investigate the propagation of the hot electrons across up to 400 µ m vacuum gaps. The experiments demonstrate the transition from non-relativistic to relativistic intensities. The effect of self-generated fields in preventing electrons to leave the target is found to be much less pronounced as predicted by planar theories [1]. Implications with respect to pumping of X-ray lasers [2] will be discussed.

[1]E.E. Fill, Phys. Plasmas 8, (2001) 4613

[2]G. Pretzler, Th. Schlegel, E. Fill, and D. Eder, Phys. Rev. E 62, (2000) 5618

^a DFG, HA 1101/7-2 and Euratom/Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik Association.